hello there!

I am Alena, and I draw children's books.

Soft, cosy picture books painted on my iPad, full of friendly animals and gentle light. More than 70 published so far, and I'd love to draw yours.

See my work Start a book together

straight from the sketchbook

Portfolio

Telling a story without shouting

Sometimes the world can feel a bit big and scary, so I use soft, warm colours to make my pictures feel like a cosy hug: a safe, happy place where children can let their imagination run without ever feeling worried.

My work grows out of my own childhood: happy summers in my grandparents' village in Belarus, surrounded by family, nature, animals and wild berries, with a little adventure every day. I studied design at university, and today I draw soft, rounded, tender illustrations on my iPad. I've illustrated more than 70 published books, 26 of them in 2025 alone.

My biggest dream is to write and draw a children's book of my very own one day.

on the shelf

70+ books, out in the world

All of these were self-published by their authors on Amazon KDP, and some on IngramSpark and Barnes & Noble too. Every one was drawn by hand for its own story.

See my books on Amazon

Covers of more than twenty picture books illustrated by Alena

how we'd work together

Rates & process

I love working with first-time self-publishing authors: parents, teachers and grandparents who have written a beautiful story and want to bring it to life. I'll guide you through everything, from illustration and page layout to print-ready files. You focus on your story; I'll turn it into a picture book you'll be proud to share.

Up to 12 illustrations
$1,290
A mix of spreads and single pages, plus the cover and professional typesetting.
Up to 24 illustrations
$2,370
A mix of spots, spreads and single pages, plus the cover and professional typesetting.
Up to 32 illustrations
$3,090
A mix of spots, spreads and single pages, plus the cover and professional typesetting.
Test illustration
$90
A single illustration, to see if we're a perfect fit.

How it works

Timeline. The whole illustration process usually takes 2–3 months.
Getting started. Send me your script with a short description for each page, or trust my experience and give me full creative freedom.
Regular updates. You see each illustration as soon as it's ready, so we stay on the same page.

What's included

Revisions. One round of edits per illustration; more are available for a fee.
Files. High-quality JPGs without text, plus a fully assembled, print-ready PDF.
Formats. Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble or Mixam, and others on request.
Rights. You keep full rights to publish, sell and promote your book. I only keep the right to show it in my portfolio.
Payment. By bank transfer, in advance. Larger projects can be split into 2–3 payments.

kind words

What authors say

“Alena works quietly, no fuss, and delivers promptly. Her work is of first-class quality: warm, friendly illustrations, and any changes I requested were carried out with no fuss at all.”
debijane, Israel
“Absolutely love the quality and she always captures the vision I have for everything! I am a happy returning customer.”
mfett4131, USA
“Alena was instrumental in helping me create a beautiful and life changing project. Thank you Alena!”
emilymenendez, USA
“I really was not an easy client but she was very patient and professional. I am so pleased with the design she did for me.”
catherinewhitin, UK
“So good at taking my design ideas and bringing them to life! Grateful for her talented work!”
lbridestriet, USA
“I have used Alena for illustrations previously and her work is always excellent.”
tristanhemsley, UK